Matching Funds for Public Service Gigs: The Music Performance Fund

The Music Performance Fund (MPF) enables union musicians to reach the audiences that need us the most but can afford us the least, and to receive union scale wages when we do.

MPF provides matching funds for gigs that are free and open to the public. A non-profit co-sponsor pays part of your fee (usually 60%), and MPF provides the rest. MPF allocates approximately $6,000 to Local 1000 for our members to use this year. To ensure that these funds are distributed fairly we allow each member to perform up to three MPF gigs per year.

For a solo act, an MPF gig pays $220 plus a pension contribution of $22 (10% of the wage) to a solo act or leader $110 plus a pension contribution of $11 (10% of the wge) to each side musician. (Note: MPF requires acts with two or more musicians list one person as leader and the rest as side musicians.)

To qualify for MPF funds a gig must:

  • Be a musical performance that is free and open to the public
  • Be an all-ages event
  • Have a co-sponsor that is an educational or non-profit organization prepared to pay 60% of the total cost — that is, the wage plus the pension contribution. For a solo act the co-sponsor would pay $145.20 and MPF would contribute $96.80. (While the typical co-sponsor portion is 60%, the percentage does vary depending upon the type of organization. In some cases MPF provides a 50-50 match.)

MPF gigs are subject to MPF policies and procedures. These can be a little daunting at first, but the Local 1000 staff is available to walk you through the process.

Step-by-Step Guide to an MPF Gig

  1. The first step is to complete an application for MPF funding. You should submit the application to the Local 1000 office in writing, along with a check from the co-sponsor for their percentage, at least 35 days before the gig. You can send it by email or post, or complete our online application.To complete the application you will need to know the following:

    2. __ Name, address and phone number of co-sponsor

    __ Date of performance

    __ Starting time of performance

    __ Length of performance

    __ Location of performance (complete address including zip code)

    __ Type of facility (nursing home, school, park, etc.)

    __ Description of program

    __ Expected size of audience

    __ Names of all musicians, with one identified as leader. For each musician, indicate whether they belong to the AFM, and if so, the number of their local.

    __ Percentage of costs co-sponsor is paying (Check with the Local 1000 office to find out which percentage applies.

  2. Obtain a check, payable to MPF, from the co-sponsor for their portion of the funds. If you not submitting your application on line, but sure to include it when you send the check to Local 1000. We submit the both application and the co-sponsor payment together to MPF. We cannot submit one without the other. And remember, we must receive both at least 35 days before the gig.Note: MPF no longer accepts applications without payment. If your co-sponsor cannot issue a check in advance, they should do so as soon as possible. Under these circumstances, Local 1000 has no choice but to hold the application until the co-sponsor’s check arrives at our office. To date MPF has not refused to approve any eligible programs after the fact; however if they did refuse, the musicians on the gig would not be paid.
  3. Using the information from your application, we fill out a recommendation to MPF. We are required to mail this form, along with the co-sponsor’s check, to MPF at least 30 days before the gig.
  4. MPF approves the gig (assuming it meets their criteria and funds remain in Local 1000’s allocation) and mails notice of approval to Local 1000.
  5. Local 1000 lets you know the gig has been approved and sends you a performance payroll form, known as a “Green Sheet.”
  6. Fill out the Green Sheet and bring it to the gig. Immediately after the performance:

    –> Someone from the co-sponsoring group must sign the Green Sheet on the line labeled, “Signature of Co-Sponsor Representative.”

    –> Soloist or lead musician must sign on the line labeled “Signature of Leader.”

    You must submit a separate Green Sheet for each performance, even if the shows are for the same co-sponsor and/or are on the same day.

  7. Mail the Green Sheet to Local 1000, at:

    AFM Local 1000
    322 West 48th St., 3rd Floor
    New York, NY 10036.    (Be sure to include the attached carbon copy.) This form is the only documentation that you lived up to the contract. You will need to submit the Green Sheet in order to get paid. Local 1000 staff signs the Green Sheet and sends it on to MPF.
  8. Local 1000 signs the Green Sheet and sends it on to MPF.
  9. Within about 2 to 4 weeks, MPF mails a check to each musician. MPF automatically deducts taxes and work dues. If you do not want taxes deducted, enter “19″ on the Green Sheet, in the box labeled “No. of Exemp.”

Questions? Contact the Local 1000 office or Membership Services Committee.